Research in the Department of Ecological, Plant and Animal Sciences
The Department of Ecological, Plant and Animal Sciences is recognised nationally and internationally for its research.
We are rated well above world standard in ecology, evolutionary biology, plant biology, soil sciences, animal production, crop and pasture production, and veterinary sciences in the Australian Research Council’s Excellence in Research for Australia.
Our staff make key contributions to the La Trobe Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and Food and our prestigious research centres – the Centre for Freshwater Ecolosystems, the Research Centre for Applied Alpine Ecology and the Research Centre for Future Landscapes.
Our researchers are members of the Australian Research Council’s Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space, which aims to create on-demand, zero-waste, high-efficiency plants and plant products to address grand challenges in sustainability for Space and on Earth.
They are also members of the Australian Research Council’s Research Hub for Medicinal Agriculture, which brings together research capability in agriculture and biomedical sciences to place Australia at the forefront of agribiotech research, production and manufacturing.
Our research aligns with La Trobe University's research themes: Sustainable food and agriculture, Resilient environments and communities and Understanding and preventing disease.
To find out more about our individual research groups, please take a look at our research booklet.
Research Areas
Our research spans the fundamental to the highly applied, with strengths in plant biology, plant energy metabolism, plant cell wall biology, medicinal agriculture, soil science, agronomy, animal health, freshwater ecosystems, agri-ecological systems, environmental change and evolutionary biology.
Our research is grouped into eight key areas:
Our researchers examine the consequences of landscape change to develop new solutions, tools and approaches to the challenge of conserving nature in regional and rural landscapes.
Our researchers are strengthening food security and agricultural sustainability. They specialise in agronomy, optimising crop production through the study of soil health, nutrient management and crop growth patterns. This knowledge is essential for maximising yields and ensuring a stable food supply.
Our researchers explore animal reproduction and physiology, with a focus on endangered species, anthropogenic disturbance, captive breeding and the success of reintroduction.
Our researchers are developing tools for rapid diagnosis of infectious agents in the field, to facilitate more effective treatment and management decisions. The result: a proactive approach that reduces the impact of disease outbreaks, pest infestations and invasive species introductions, preventing widespread damage and economic losses.
Our researchers quantify how environmental changes impact how animals, plants and ecosystems ‘work’ in the face of rapid climate transformation, changing fire regimes and the spread of invasive species.
Our researchers examine the evolution of diversity, and the ecological and evolutionary consequences of the interactions between plants and animals.
Our researchers seek to understand and solve significant challenges to support the sustainable management of freshwater ecosystems.
Our researchers are enhancing our molecular understanding of crop growth and yield in various agricultural contexts, as well as studying biological diversity and its conservation. This research addresses global challenges such as food security, climate change, resource sustainability, human health, and environmental conservation and management.
Graduate Research
We are educating the next generation of agricultural and natural resource scientists, delivering high quality training to our graduate researchers.
We have Masters and PhD opportunities, where candidates conduct high impact projects under the direction of experts in their field. PhD candidates also have the option of working with an industry organisation from government, private or not-for profit sector in our industry PhD.
Our graduate researchers are well supported by teams of at least two supervisors, Progress Committees and a carefully tailored milestone program.
They enjoy a vibrant research culture with reading groups, writing workshops, skills-based workshops, and an annual 3 Minute Thesis competition and Higher Degree by Research conference. Some also teach in the School, preparing them for a career in academia.
All graduate researchers are part of La Trobe’s Graduate Research School, which nurtures a vibrant research community and upskills researchers through the Research Education and Development (RED) team. The RED team run workshops on topics from preparing literature reviews through to data manipulation and visualisation; and run initiatives including Shut Up and Write!, and 3-Minute Thesis.
Find out more about graduate research opportunities at La Trobe, or contact the School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment’s Director of Graduate Research, Professor Ewen Silvester.
Research Centres and Institute
Our staff make key contributions to La Trobe's research centres and the La Trobe Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and Food.
The Centre for Freshwater Ecosystems brings together a wealth of expertise in freshwater science and water management to understand and help solve the significant challenges in sustaining healthy freshwater ecosystems.
Find out more about the Centre.
The La Trobe Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and Food specialises in research on seed production, food and health. It fosters collaboration between agri-food and health sectors to promote emerging technologies and research, creating an innovative, multidisciplinary environment. The Institute also focuses on training a skilled workforce and promoting sustainable agricultural production systems.
Find out more about the Institute.
The Reseach Centre for Applied Alpine Ecology specialises in all aspects of the ecology of alpine and sub-alpine landscapes in Australia including ecological processes, rare and endangered species conservation, effects of fire, exotic plants and animals, human activities, and the management of these ecosystems in response to climate change.
Find out more about the Centre.
The Research Centre for Future Landscapes generates knowledge and solutions that address the global challenge of sustaining and restoring natural ecosystems in modified landscapes, and empowering people and communities to create more sustainable landscapes.
Find out more about the Centre.